Description

Join us for GTSC’s BORDER SECURITY 2026, our premier deep dive into the missions, priorities, challenges, and evolving needs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

For more than a decade, GTSC has brought together CBP leadership, mission practitioners, and industry partners for candid conversations about the capabilities needed to secure the nation’s borders and advance CBP’s complex mission, including:

• Safeguarding the nation’s borders and ports of entry
• Securing and facilitating lawful trade and travel
• Countering transnational criminal organizations, illicit drugs, and emerging threats
• Modernizing technology, data, and infrastructure
• Strengthening the workforce and frontline operations
• Advancing acquisition and partnerships with industry
• Strengthening international and interagency collaboration

GTSC’s BORDER SECURITY 2026, formerly known as CBP Days continues that tradition, providing a forum for government and industry to better understand CBP’s priorities, exchange ideas, and identify opportunities to strengthen mission delivery.

8:30 AM–9:00 AM | Registration & Coffee

9:00 AM–9:30 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks

Kristina Tanasichuk, CEO & Founder, Government Technology & Services Coalition

Patty Todaro Bolin, Founder, ICS Advisory

Susan Engley, Homeland and Public Safety Lead, Thoughtworks

9:30 AM–10:00 AM | The OS Enterprise: Mission Integration, Modernization, and Operational Readiness

Intro: Susan Engley, Homeland and Public Safety Lead, Thoughtworks

Casey O. Durst, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Operations Support

10:00 AM–11:00 AM | Enterprise Services: WFTCA and OB3 Implementation

Todd Muehlenbeck, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services

Chris Lein, Director, Advanced Training Center, Office of Training and Development

Trevor A. Blow, Acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Office of Facilities and Asset Management

Andrea Bright, Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Management

Barry W. Carpenter, Executive Director, Workforce Care Directorate

KC Milligan, Component Acquisition Executive, Executive Director Acquisition Governance and Oversight

11:00 – 11: 30 AM Break 

11:30 AM–12:00 PM | Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) Update

Roberto Vaquero, Acting Executive Director, Innovation and Strategy Directorate, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

12:00 PM–1:30 PM | Lunch

1:30 PM–2:30 PM | CBP Procurement FY26 Accomplishments and Priorities and Goals for FY27

Kerri Bishop, Executive Director, Procurement; Deputy Head of the Contracting Activity 

Nick Martinelli, Chief of the Contracting Office supporting Mission Support and Technologies Procurement Directorate 

Hyun (Julie) Koo, Chief of the Contracting Office, BEA, Procurement Directorate 

David Seay, Division Director, Information Technology Contracting Division, Office of Acquisition 

2:30 PM–3:15 PM | 25 Years of Staying Ahead: The Evolution of NTC Targeting

Jorge Comas, Director, Counter-Network Division, National Targeting Center

Eric R. Peters, Director, Executive Passenger Division, National Targeting Center

Brad Bartel, Policy Director, National Targeting Center

DAY TWO - NOVEMBER 5

8:45 AM–9:00 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks

Kristina Tanasichuk, CEO & Founder, Government Technology & Services Coalition

Patty Todaro Bolin, Founder, ICS Advisory

Susan Engley, Homeland and Public Safety Lead, Thoughtworks

9:00 AM–9:30 AM | Border Patrol: Strategic Direction, Modernization & the Future of Sector Operations

Anthony Crane, Deputy Executive Director, Law Enforcement Operations Directorate, U.S. Border Patrol 

9:30 AM–10:00 AM | Fireside Chat: The Future of Targeting: Multimodal Biometrics, Mobility, and Mission Integration

Nael Samha, Executive Director, Targeting, Vetting and Analysis Programs

10:00 AM–10:45 AM | Turning Technology into Frontline Capability

Michelle Zebrowski, Chief Data Officer, Office of Information and Technology

Adina Patella, Executive Director, Passenger Systems Program Directorate

Thomas (Tom) Mills, Executive Director, Cargo Systems Program Directorate, OIT

10:45 AM–11:00 AM | Break

11:00 AM–11:30 AM | Fireside Chat; CBP Cybersecurity Priorities and Contractor Security Expectations

Scott Davis, Chief Information Security Officer; Executive Director, Cybersecurity Directorate, Office of Information Technology

11:30 AM–12:30 PM | Lunch

12:30 PM–1:15 PM | Air and Marine Operations: Mission Technology & Operational Integration

Keith M. Jones, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Air and Marine Operations

Timothy J. Emerick, Deputy Executive Director, Operations, Air and MarineOperations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

James D. “JT” Thom, Executive Director, Domain Awareness Security, Operations, Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

Genna P. Dahlberg, Acting Executive Director, Mission Support, Air and Marine Operations,U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Collin Brooks, Acting Deputy Executive Directon, Mission Support, Air and Marine Operation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

1:15 – 2:00 PM Modernizing Trade & Cargo Enforcement Through Integrated Systems, Data, and Technology

Bradford (Brad) Slutsky, Acting Executive Director, Trade Transformation Office, Office of Trade

Thomas (Tom) Mills, Executive Director, Cargo Systems Program Directorate, OIT

2:00 – 3:00 PM: From Mission Needs to Modern Solutions: A Conversation with CBP’s SAS Leaders

Intro: Susan Engley, Homeland and Public Safety Lead, Thoughtworks

Jay Alalasundaram, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Software Applications and Services, Chief Software Officer, Office of Information Technology, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Capacine Abdul-Aziz, Deputy Executive Director, Enforcement Systems, Border Enforcement Management Directorate Office of Information Technology, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Christopher Dearie, Deputy Executive Director, Border Enforcement Management Directorate

Office of Information Technology, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Valla Olliver, Deputy Executive Director, Cargo Systems Program Directorate, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

John Everett, Deputy Executive Director, Cargo Systems Program Directorate, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

3:00 PM–3:30 PM | Fireside Chat: Closing Keynote: CBP Technology Modernization and Industry Partnership

Sunil Madhugiri, Chief Technology Officer, Office of Information and Technology

Nilanjan Sengupta, SVP / Industry Market Director, Public Sector and Healthcare, Americas, Thoughtworks

3:30 PM | CBP Days Concludes

Join us January 22-23, 2026 for GTSC’s 14th Annual Border Security Symposium—our premier deep dive into the missions and priorities of U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP).

For over a decade, this event has brought together government and industry leaders to explore CBP’s critical role in:

• Safeguarding the nation’s borders
• Enhancing trade and travel security
• Leveraging innovative technologies
• Strengthening international partnerships

9:00 AM Welcome & Opening Remarks 

Kristina Tanasichuk, CEO, Government Technology & Services Coalition

Vishal Tulsian, President & Chief Operating Officer, RELI Group

9:15 AM KEYNOTE: Strengthening Accountability & Transparency at America's Borders

Intro: Tish Mossman, Vice President, National Security, RELI Group

Ron Vitiello, Special Advisor to the Commissioner

9:45 AM Fireside Chat: Enabling Legitimate Trade and Ensuring Enforcement

Moderator: Patty Todaro Bolin, CEO, ICS Advisory

Diann Rodriguez, Executive Director, Operations Directorate, Office of Trade

10:15 AM Innovation and AI to Protect the Border and Secure Trade and Travel

Moderator: Joshua Powell, Chief Innovation Officer/Chief AI Officer

Brandon Lord, Executive Director, Trade Policy and Programs Directorate

Erick Reese, Acting Director, CBP Innovation Team

Daniel Tanciar, Deputy Executive Director, Innovation and Strategy Directorate, Office of Field Operations

William Link, Acting Deputy Division Chief, Systems Division, U.S. Border Patrol

11:15 AM Break 

11:30 AM OA Outlook and Organizational Alignment

Intro: Mark Olson, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, REI Systems

Earl J. Lewis, III, Head of the Contracting Activity, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Office of Acquisition

Nick Martinelli, Chief of the Contracting Office, Mission Support & Technologies

Judy Simpson, Director, Industry Partnership & Outreach Programs

Stephanie Alexander, Director, Aviation, Maritime & Border Technologies Contracting Division

David Seay, Director, Information Technology Contracting Division

12:30 PM LUNCH

1:30 Modernizing Border Enforcement/cUAS and Emerging Threats 

Erik Sorensen, Assistant Chief, Defense Capability Group/C-UAS Operations Coordinator, U.S. Border Patrol

2:00 PM Anticipating and Confronting Threats at the Border and Beyond 

Troy Johnson, Deputy Executive Director, Domain Awareness Security Operations, Air and Marine Operations

2:30 Adjourn 

9:45 AM Welcome & Opening Remarks 

Kristina Tanasichuk, CEO, Government Technology & Services Coalition

Vishal Tulsian, President & Chief Operating Officer, RELI Group

10:00 AM: Digital Transformation at CBP

Intro: Marc Zoellner, Vice President of Growth, Homeland & National Security, OMNI Federal 

James McCament, Chief Digital Transformation Officer

10:30 AM Enhancing Port Operations with Emerging Technology 

Daniel Tanciar, Deputy Executive Director, Innovation and Strategy Directorate, Office of Field Operations

Matthew Davies, Executive Director, Admissibility and Passenger Programs, Office of Field Operations   

11:00 AM National Targeting Center-Couter Terrorism Mapping the Evolution of Radicalization

Jorge Comas, Director, Counter Network Division, National Targeting Center

11:30 AM Break

11:45 AM Keynote: Enterprise Services Strengthening the Mission

Ntina Cooper, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services

12:15 PM The New Era of Digital Modernization – OIT

Jay Alalasundaram, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Information Technology

12:45 LUNCH

1:45 PM Securing Mission Critical OT in High Threat Environments

Dr. Edward Mays, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Office of Information Technology

2:15 PM IT Directorate - What’s on the Horizon

Mario Medina, Deputy Executive Director, Targeting and Analysis Systems Program Directorate

Adina Pantella, Executive Director, Passenger Systems Program Directorate

Baibhav Devkota, Executive Director, Border Enforcement Management Systems Directorate

Tom Mills, Executive Director, Cargo Systems Program Directorate

3:15 PM Emerging IT Priorities- How we Functions Integrate across Mission 

Moderator: Sarah Sanchez, Chief Innovation Officer, RELI Group

Sunil Madhugiri, Chief Technology Officer

Michelle Zebrowski, Chief Data Officer

4:00 PM Adjourn 

Thank you to our Sponsors!